WCDO Radio News

The New York City DEP announced operations at the Cannonsville Reservoir have returned to normal. On Monday, the DEP stated it had resumed downstream releases under the Flexible Management Program on August 5th. It is no longer diverting drinking water from the reservoir and is relying on the Pepaction and Neversink reservoirs to balance storage. A preliminary investigation indicated that drilling in the reservoir had released ground water under natural pressure and caused an upward flow of water and sediment into the West Branch Delaware River.

Congressman Chris Gibson is calling on federal regulators to make changes to the Delaware River Basin Flexible Flow Management Plan to better protect Upstate New Yorkers from flooding. Last week the Delaware River Basin Decree Parties extended the current Flexible Flow Management Plan for another year, delaying the implementation of measures to mitigate flooding in surrounding communities. Gibson said that releases from the Cannonsville, Neversink, and Pepacton reservoirs are regulated by a 1954 United States Supreme Court decision, where New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York City must agree on changes to the management of the Delaware River Basin.